TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 107 



On Experiments confirmatory of those of Kiihne on the Non- existence of 

 Ammonia in Blood. By Dr. A. Gamgee. 



The author referred to the conclusions which Dr. Richardson had arrived at, 

 1st, that the blood, whilst circulating in the living body, contained free ammonia; 

 2nd, that when the blood leaves the animal body, ammonia escapes and coagulation 

 takes place, the escape of the ammonia and the phenomenon of coagulation being 

 considered to stand in the relation of cause and effect. The author had made some 

 experiments which were in direct opposition to those of so distinguished an experi- 

 menter as Dr. Richardson ; and as the quantity of blood which Kiihne and Strauch 

 subjected to analysis was comparatively small, he had determined on repeating the 

 experiments in the most rigid manner possible, and upon a larger scale than had 

 been previously attempted. The experiments consisted in introducing blood taken 

 from the carotids of living animals directly into an atmosphere of pure hydrogen, and 

 allowing hydrogen to bubble through the fluid. The gases thus expelled were con- 

 ducted into Nessler's reagent. This (the most delicate test for ammonia) failed in de- 

 tecting the faintest trace of free ammonia, although it was proved to be capable of de- 

 tecting 0-5G gr. of ammonia when mixed with 140 ozs. of blood, and 20 ozs. of water. 



The author then discussed the question as to whether the blood contained one of 

 the compound ammonias, instead of ordinary ammonia. He stated that all the 

 compound ammonias which he had examined gave reaction with Nessler's reagent, 

 and the author concluded by remarking that further researches would, he believed, 

 confirm the results of the experiments which he had performed, and satisfactorily 

 prove that Nessler's reagent was as delicate a test for the compound ammonias as 

 for simple ammonia. 



Refutation of the View recently propounded that the Food comes into contact 

 with the Vocal Cords in Deglutition. By George Duncan Gibb, M.A., 

 M.B., LL.D.. F.G.S. 



The author referred to the recent experiments of M. Guilder, of Montpellier, in 

 relation to the function of deglutition, which were brought before the Academy of 

 Sc'ences in Paris, and given briefly in the ' Comptes Rendus ' for May last. These ex- 

 periments by M. Gruinier were performed upon himself by means of autolaryngoscopy, 

 and consisted in the introduction of food into the larynx whilst the little mirror was 

 in the mouth, the ep : glottis remaining erect ; and he Therefore inferred that, in swal- 

 lowing, the food passed into the top of the windpipe, glided over the vocal cords, and 

 tumbled into the gullet, the epiglottis still being erect. He inferred also that fluids 

 always passed under the epiglottis in gargling or swallowing fluids. Dr. Gibb 

 questioned the conclusions drawn from the experiments, and maintained that the 

 act of swallowing food could not be demonstrated with a mirror at the back of the 

 mouth, and that the introduction of food into the larynx behind the epiglottis 

 showed the tolerance of the larynx under certain circumstances, but did not show 

 that this cartilage remained erect in deglutition. This tolerance was further shown 

 by the still later experiments of M. Kiishaber, who passed chewed bread into the 

 larynx with his linger, along the posterior surface of the epiglottis, and on a deep 

 inspiration this was drawn downwards into the trachea, and could be retained there 

 as long as the bolus remained warm and soft. Dr. Gibb referred to cases in his own 

 experience, where the epiglottis was destroyed by disease, and, notwithstanding, 

 the food did not glide over the vocal cords, as the soft parts at the top of the wind- 

 pipe approximated and allowed the food to slip into the gullet. It could be seen 

 also, that whi n the act of deglutition was examined with the laryngoscope, the 

 cavity of the larynx was quite clo-ed up, and then covered by the depressed epi- 

 glottis, so that food could not enter in the natural way. From these well-known 

 facts, with others which he mentioned, Dr. Gibb stated that our well-known views 

 in relation to deglutition, and the part the epiglottis played in it, remained sound, 

 and could not bo controverted by any experiments that might be made with the aid 

 of the laiyngr srope. 



Remarks on the Skeleton of a Woman cet. 104. By Dr. G. M. Humphry, F.R.S. 

 The woman had been a temperate person, eating rather heartily and drinking 



